EAC, EABC Board Members Meet to Discuss Areas of Collaboration

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 7th November, 2017:

The Board of Directors and staff from the East African Business Council (EABC) led by the Chairman, Mr. Jim Kabeho yesterday met the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko at the EAC headquarters, in Arusha ,Tanzania .

The two parties had an in-depth discussion on areas of collaboration  and key priority projects that can  make a difference in the region as well as  generate results for  the integration process.

Addressing the meeting, the EAC Secretary General Amb Liberat Mfumukeko  informed the EABC Board of Directors that  EAC has developed the 5^th EAC Development Strategy under the EAC Vision 2050 which will provide strategic direction for the Community for the next 5 years. The goal is to build a firm foundation for transforming the East African Community into a stable, competitive and sustainable lower middle income region by 2021. The  participation and the involvement of private sector is key towards the achievement of this goal, added, Secretary General.

He informed the EABC Board Members that for the last three or so years EAC has been seized of the importance of putting the East African business sector at the heart of promoting intra-regional trade and investments. “I am optimistic that by the end of our meeting, we shall be able to identify in concrete terms those areas of collaboration for the next phase and how to improve on what we have been doing’’.

On his part, the Chairperson of EABC Board of Directors, Mr. Jim Kabeho said EABC is committed to providing a regional platform through which the business community can present their concerns to ensure a conducive business environment within the East African Community.

“I pledge our commitment and support to the EAC Secretariat towards making our region conducive for investments  and doing business at large’’

The two parties discussed key areas of collaboration  including; EAC - Private Sector Development Strategy and Development of the new version; Priorities areas for joint implementation and synergy during the financial year 2017/2018 and 2018/2019; Joint resource mobilization for the next financial year as well as  setting up joint EAC Private Sector Fund.

At the end of the EAC-EABC consultative meeting, the Secretary General addressed the Press accompanied by the EABC Board Members and EAC official.

Also present at the meeting were the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure,  Eng. Steven Mlote, and Director of Trade at the EAC Secretariat, Alhaj Rashid Kibowa.

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

 The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2008 Certified

27th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning underway in Arusha

Posted in Press Release

East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 31^st October, 2017:

The 27^th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania.

The five-day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which was scheduled for October 30^th and  31^st, 2017 followed by the Coordination Committee comprising Permanent/Principal Secretaries from 1^st November to 2^nd November, 2017. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session which will take place on Friday, 3^rd November, 2017.

Among the items on the agenda of the meeting are:

• Consideration of report on the Implementation of previous decisions of the SCMEACP;
• Consideration of the report on the status of integration for the period July 2016 – June 2017;
• Consideration of a Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol;
• Consideration of a Progress Report on COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Arrangement;
• Consideration of the Draft 5^th EAC Development Strategy (2016/17-2020/21);
• Consideration of the key priority areas for the FY2018/19;
• Consideration of the Progress Report on the Development of a Roadmap for the Integration of the Republic of South Sudan into the EAC;
• Consideration of the Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Brand Architecture Strategy, and;
• Consideration of EAC Audit and Risk Committee Matters

The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Dr. Andrew Musiime, Director of EAC Affairs at the Ministry of EAC Affairs in the Republic of Uganda. Uganda is the current Chair of the Community.

The Session was officially opened by the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote.

- ENDS -

For more information, please contact:

Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org

About the East African Community Secretariat:

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.